Improvement in match-lighters



Patented Juuly 28,1874.

INVENTR:

l. STRASZER. Match-Lighters.

ATTEST:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STRASZER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN MATCH-LIGHTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,628, dated July 28,1874; application filed June 20, 1874.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, J oEN STRAsZER, of St. Louis, St. Louis county,Missouri, have invented an Improvement in l\Iatch-Lighters, of which thefollowing is a specification:

This improvement consists in a tube, into the end of which the match isdropped, and which contains a plunger forced outward by a spiral spring.To the plunger is attached a knob, which works in a longitudinal slot inthe case, and which, by turning, is made to enter a notch at one side ofthe slot to hold the plunger in its retracted position, so as to admitthe match into the end of the tube. The point of the tube is beveled,and carries a spring, whose end is bent over to fit the point of thetube, and forms a coverto it, when it is drawn inward, which is done bya slip-ring. The over-bent end of the spring is roughened upon the innerside to cause the ignition of issuing match by friction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 isan axial section of the same.

A is the tube. B is the plunger, having a button, O, resting upon thespiral spring D, which tends to force the plunger outward to eject thematch E. Extending outwardly from the button O is a thumb-knob, F, whicheX- tends through a slot, Gr, of the tube, and by which the plunger maybe drawn back to depress the spring', and to admit the match into theend of the tube, as shown lin Fig. 2. The slot G has at the lower end,as shown, a side notch or catch, g, into which the knob F is turned tohold the plunger in its retracted position. H is a spring having aninbent inwardlyroughened end, h, which, when the spring is held inward,covers the orifice from which the match issues. I is a sliding ring,giving the means for holding in the spring H, in position shown in Fig.2.

rIhe instrument is intended more especially for lighting lamps that areout of easy reach of the hands. Of these two classes may be mentioned:First, when the burner is inclosed in a case, such as that of alocomotive headlight,77 where it is impossible to get the hand inproximity to the burner without troublesome manipulation; and, second,Where the burner is at such a distance as to be out of reach of thehand.

The operation is as follows: After use, the instrument will have theburnt stump of the match held by the point lt of the spring H, and withthe end of the plunger against the inner end of the stump. To charge theinstrument with a fresh match, the slip-ring I is drawn down intoposition shown in Fig. l, which allows the spring to move outward andrelease the stump, which then drops out. The plunger is then drawn downby the knob F, which is then engaged in the catch or notch g to hold theplunger in this position. The match is then dropped into the open end ofthe tube A and the slip-ring forced up into the position shown in Fig.2, to hold the spring H in its inner position. The instrument is nowcharged, and by turning the knob F out of the catch-notch g, the plungeris relieved and forced forward by the spiral spring D, and forces outthe match against the roughened end la of the spring H, thus ignitingthe match.

For use in locomotive head-lights, or in similar situations, a smallhole may be made in the case suflioient to admit the tube, or one of theair-holes may be used for this purpose.

My device may be varied somewhat without changing the essential featuresof its construction or action; also, other holding device may besubstituted for knob F and notch g.

I am aware that match-lighters have before been made with a slidingpiston operated by a spring to throw out a match between a pair ofspring-jaws having an igniting-surface.

rIhe combination of my spring-sleeve I with the spring-jaw H is of greatutility in admitting of opening said jaw, so that no separate opening'is needed for the introduction of the matches. It also affords means forvarying the pressure of the jaw.

I claim as my invention- The slotted tube A, plunger B, andoperating-spring D, in combination with the spring H, igniting-surfaceh, and adjustable sliding ring l, as and for the purposes set forth.

` JOHN STRASZER. Witnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, ROBERT BURNS.

